WAIMAKARIRI OVERFLOW.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 118, 16 October 1874, Page 2

WAIMAKARIRI OVERFLOW.

A public meeting with reference to the overflow of the Waimakariri was held at the Institute, Kaiapoi, on Thursday. Theweather was stormy, so that after waiting half an hour there were but thirty persons present, as the meeting went on, however, the number increased to about sixty. The Mayor (Mr Kerr) was voted to the chair. After reading the advertisement inviting persons “ affected by the overflow of the Waimakariri ” to attend, he stated that this meeting was the result of one previously held at the Pier Hotel, at which a committee was appointed to arrange the resolutions to be now submitted, but as the intended mover and seconder of the first resolution even, viz, Messrs Blackett and Dixon, were not in the hall, this meeting had better decide whether the business should be proceeded with or adjourned. Mr J. Beswick proposed that, in the absence of the members representing the town and district, the meeting be adjourned for a week, to permit of their attending, as the weather was somewhat disagreeable, and he would wish to see the same courtesy shown to them has he might himself have expected.

Messrs J. C. Porter and G. L. Mellish advised holding the meeting on another evening than next Thursday. Mr Biswick explained that it was fixed for Thursday, to allow persons to return by the late trains. Mr J. Birch, before the resolution was put, protested. He gave an account of the manner in which the meeting had been brought about, the intention of which was to obtain an expression of opinion on an important matter from the ratepayers in town and country affected by the overflow. Special pains had been taken by the committee who arranged the meeting to give publicity to it, and secure the co-operation of the gentlemen representing the road boards ; but, in the absence of any explanation, it appeared that Mr Blackett, at any rate, had slighted the committee, after having promised them to move the first resolution. Mr 0. Oram seconded Mr Beswick’s motion for adjournment. During a discussion which followed, Mr Beswick pointed out that, had he wished to make political capital out of it, he could have drawn attention to the absence of the members of the district, which might have been construed to show a want of courtesy. He did not see l*t that Mr Blackett might be excused, but where was Mr Jojnt(the Mayor : He was not asked) —then perhaps the Mayor at a later stage has an apology to react from Mr Joynt. In reference to Mr Dixon, he believed the advertisement did not appear till Tuesday last, and living away up country Mr Dixon might not then have seenit. After some discussion, it was agreed that the motion should be withdrawn, and the business proceeded with. The c> airman asked if some one would move “ That, in the opinion of this meeting, combined action be taken by the Kaiapoi Borough Council, the Mandeville and Rangiora and Eyreton Road Boards for the protection of the town and district.”

After a pause, Mr Beswick remarked that as no one appeared coming forward he would propose the motion. Having alluded to the damage done to the district by late floods, he trusted such action would be taken as would prevent the inundation, which was caused by the railway embankments backing up the water, and keep in its proper channel the body of water which the Board of Conservators for the South Waimakariri district were forcing to the north side of the river.

Mr R. Macfarlane seconded the motion, saying he did so as a matter of form, in the absence of the intended seconder.

Mr G. L. Mellish expressed his regret that it was necessary to take these steps to prevent overflows, but at the present it was either a question of allowing the to go on wandering at large at its own sweet will or restraining it, and the latter seemed quite possible and the better plan to adopt. Referring to the fact that the embankments and groynes, near the South Waimakariri bridge tended to force the water on to the town, by acting as they did in the shape of obstructions to its free course, recommended that this question of dealing with the overflow of the river was hardly a matter that ought to be entrusted to the hands of amateur engineers, he might term them, but should be left with some competent engineer accustomed to such rivers, whose duty would be to make a thorough examination of its courses, take levels, and devise a proper system to curb it, to the extent of the available funds, and thus avoid the frittering away of money for no real good—[hear, hear] —which latter would probably happen if an amateur was put to perform the work. [Applause.] Mr R M. Wright, Eyreton road surveyor, informed tne meeting that he had visited the north branch of the river that day. His opinion, formed on the spot, was that a serious encroachment was likely to be made by the river, and the water had only to rise two feet higher in the south branch to flow into the north branch, so that should this

overflow get a lead, the main body of water must reach the north branch, and cause that river to be as troublesome to Kaiapoi as formerly. It seemed to him necessary that some steps should be taken without incurring the delay of procuring an engineer ; after which, time would be lost by the engineer having to prepare his reports, and tlie matter go through a course of red tape before an attempt could be made to avert the evil. He advised the planting of willows as a useful precaution, which, placed in such a position, would collect silt, and help to keep together the present banks, preventing the river scouring, though a groyne or groynes could also easily be placed to shunt the stream. [Hear.] The motion was put, and declared carried.

Mr Birch moved—“ That in the opinion of this meeting the railway embankments and drainage works of the rivers Gust and Eyre have added greatly to the danger in time of flood both to Kaiapoi and the surrounding districts, and the railway works.” In doing so, he adverted to the fact that formerly the swamps held a large quantity of of water, which shortly drained away in the course of several weeks or months; but now by means of the drains, this large body of water was brought down to the river in twenty-four hours, the result being that it must be liable to flood if the course was not kept very open. The northern railway em baukments were so mad”, that in time of overflow they held the water from taking its course, and besides damaging properly, although the line had not long been opened, traffic by rail had three or four times been stopped, with every prospect of its again happening. Not only did his motion provide for relieving the district in time of flood, but it would be seen that the important means of railway communication was rendered less likely to suffer from these repeated interruptions. While on this question it need only be added that he considered the Government should do the work well and efficiently. It would be cheaper in the long run, although at the time it might seem to cost a great deal. [Applause.] Mr J. Pashby seconded the motion, saying he had lived at Kaiapoi about seventeen years, but never till lately had noticed the overflow of the south branch of the Waimakiriri flow over its north bank, which he attributed to the railway embankment at the sand hills. He also alluded to the fact that the main drain at Flaxton ought to have been made in a direct line in that direction, in which it would have the best fall, instead of being made across the country in such a manner that it must always be liable to overflow its north bank.

The motion was put and declared carried. Mr Beswick moved—“ That a depuration be appointed to wait on the Provincial Government to point out the hardship of the case, and ask for relief.” Having decided that steps were to be taken to prevent future damage, the question now was how they were to get relief, which was met by this motion, although for his part he attached little to the results of the meeting, yet they had a good case to lay before the Government. With regard to engineers, he observed that some years ago, when Mr Doyne advised making the Kaiapoi Island cutting, it was pooh-poohed by Mr Wy'de, and the work was not done till some time later, when a few of the farmers carried out the work, and it proved very effectual. The deputation might suggest matters to be considered by the engineer ; but the Government would no doubt carry out the works in their own way. He agreed with Mr Wright in regard to planting groynes of willows. Such groynes had been found effectual in the case of the approach to the Ashley bridge, which he had heard was called by some “ Beswick’s folly,” still they had proved very useful. There were statements made to the effect that no danger was likely to accrue from the outflow of the south reaching the north branch j but in this he was inclined to agree with Mr Wright, in which case, if they did not exert themselves, they might be said to be living in a fool’d paradise. Action ought to be taken, and that soon. They must pull all one way, and thus gain their object. [Hear.l Mr 0. Oram seconded the resolution. He was sorry that one of the early speakers had disclaimed any connexion with calling the meeting ; he was one of the movers, and explained that the matter had originated with Mr Pashby and himself. A very good claim could be made for assistance and relief for the water in time of flood, by means of pro tective works and drains. The letting of the river reserves in the town he maintained, had injuriously narrowed that part of the river, yet’'only Mr Neilson and 'himself pror tested against it. Referring to the bridge, the engineers, in his opinion, had used the wheelbarrow more than the monkey, as shown by the earthworks approaches having placed too much of a limit on the channel of the river.

Mr Wright desired to remove an erroneous opinion that works carried out on the Eyre bad caused flooding, bo such works had be: n made by the Eyreton Eoad Board, The additional supply of water in the north bank of the WaimakanTi was traceable to the overflow of the south branch past the island cutting into the north branch, as its track several chains in width could plainly be seen.

The motion was put, and declared carried: Mr Pashby moved, “ That his Worship the Mayor, the chairmen of the Mandeville and Rangiora and Eyreton Road Boards. Messrs Beswick, J. 0. Boys, Rev W. W. Willock. Joseph Clark, T. Pashby, P. C. Threlkeld, J. M-Intosh, R. Wilkin, and G. L. Mellish form the members of the deputation.” He expected they would take the Government by storm, and like the liquor traffic people, press their wants till they got them met. Mr E. Revell seconded the motion. Mr Mellish moved the addition of Mr Birch’s name.

Mr Stanton moved, Mr Ellen seconded, the erasure of Mr Threlkeld’s name, as he did not appear to be in the district affected. Mr Birch pointed out that the question was a district rot a local one, and the gentleman referred to was a representative man in his part—Earl of Inglewood or Baron of Flaxton—(laughter)—as it might be said, and part of his land being subjected to the floods, he was a capital one to form a member of the deputation. (Hear, hear.) Mr Beswick coincided, as he knew Mr Threlkeld was considerably interested, and it was requisite that they should have the large landowners represented in the deputation, to have influence with the Government. Mr Stanton’s motion was withdrawn, at the general wish of the meeting. Mr G. H. Blackwell moved the addition of the name of Mr Isaac Wilson, M.P.0., observing that the other members for the dis-

trict would have been added, but they were members of the Government.

The motion was seconded by Mr Pashby, and carried.

The deputation as proposed, with the additional names of Messrs Wilson, M.P.C., and Birch, was agreed to. A vote of thanks, moved by Mr Birch, seconded by Mr Oram, to the Mayor, concluded the proceedings.